You are on page 1of 28

Minecraft: An Annotated Bibliography

Minecraft: An Annotated
Bibliography
IUPUI

Stephen Lane II
Correspondence: smlane@iupui.edu

Keywords: Minecraft, public library, youth programs, computer skills

MINECRAFT: AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

taBLE oF ConTEnTS

Part 1: Overview.3
Description.....3
Glossary.3
Research Method...7

Part 2: Citations.....9
Web Sources.9
Books.13
eBooks....23
YouTube.27

MINECRAFT: AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

paRT 1: OVERVIEw
dEScRIPTIon

This is an annotated bibliography intended for Indianapolis Public Library employees looking to
start their own Minecraft program at their respective branch. Minecraft is described as a sandbox
game that allows players to explore their creativity. Libraries can create programs using
Minecraft to follow the Indianapolis Public Librarys strategic plan in making the public library a
third place for the youth of Indianapolis to learn and be creative. This is an annotated
bibliography that will assist as a guide to employees who desire to learn more about Minecraft
and start their own Minecraft program. This paper can also stand as a guide while running an
ongoing Minecraft program at your branch library.

GLoSSaRy

Block(s) Minecraft is a game that uses building blocks to help players build in a three
dimensional pixelated virtual environment. Blocks can be placed or removed by players in
Minecraft.

Build a completed project that a player has made in Minecraft. Examples would be a building,
house, roller coaster, etc.

MINECRAFT: AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY


Construction This is the act of building objects in Minecraft.

Crafting The act of putting certain resources together in Minecraft to make a different object
utilizing a crafting table.

Creative This a mode of play in Minecraft. Players have unlimited access to available blocks
and resources. Players are unable to die in the game and have the ability to fly.

Enchant The act of enhancing a weapon or armor using an enchantment table.

Farming This is the act of planting crops and harvesting in Minecraft. Players can grow
pumpkins, wheat, beets, carrots, watermelon and potatoes.

Griefing The act of one player destroying a build of another player by using TNT explosives
or mining tools.

Hunger Games This is a form of gameplay in Minecraft based on the popular books and
movie series The Hunger Games. Players will fight each other in survival mode and collect
resources found in hidden chests throughout a designated fighting area referred to as the arena.
The last player alive is the winner of the Hunger Games.

Mapping This is the act of players creating a unique game or map in Minecraft that can be
shared with other players to play.

MINECRAFT: AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

Minecraft Minecraft is defined as a sandbox game that can be played on multiple platforms.
The game became popular due to its open-ended playability letting players play for hours
creating games within the game. Players have access to blocks that allow them to build within
the game much like Legos.

MinecraftEdu This version of the game is by TeacherGaming and supported by Mojang. It


allows someone to moderate players within the game using the teacher controls.

MinecraftPE Pocket Edition of Minecraft that can be played with mobile devices that support
Android, iOS or Amazon software. This version of the game does not have all of the features of
Minecraft or MinecraftEdu. Up to five players can play MinecraftPE together.

Mining The ability to collect resources by going into caves or digging into the ground. This is
an important part of players who are playing in Survival Mode.

Mobs Short for mobiles. These are the creatures that move about the Minecraft worlds. For
example, mobs can be zombies, skeletons, chickens, cows, squids, etc.

Mods Modifications to Minecraft are known as mods. Some players have created their own
versions of the game using commands and computer coding to create certain changes to
Minecraft that all players can download and try mostly without extra cost.

MINECRAFT: AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

Mojang This is the developing company that created Minecraft. Minecraft is currently owned
by Microsoft.

Pixel art This is the ability for players to create 2D and 3D art using the available blocks in
Minecraft.

Python This is a free and open source software. Python is one of the most popular computer
programming language. Minecraft can be played and changed using this programming language.

Raspberry Pi This is a small circuit board computer which helps to teach kids basic computer
science skills. Minecraft can be played and modified using computer coding on a Raspberry Pi
computer.

Redstone This item allows players to practice circuitry in Minecraft and the basics of logic
programs with the game.

Server The server is a host computer or cloud service that allows multiple players to connect
and play Minecraft together.

Survival This is one of the playing modes of Minecraft where players start the game with no
resources. Players must collect resources to build things and their avatars will get hungry and
must eat food. Avatars can be killed in survival mode.

MINECRAFT: AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

TeacherGaming This is the developing company that created MinecraftEdu and was later
endorsed by Mojang, the creator of Minecraft.

Updates Changes to the game since its launch in 2011. Things have been added to the game
with each update such as the addition of redstone and enchantment potions.

rESEaRcH METHoD

I retrieved information and resources on Minecraft from the online catalogs of the Indianapolis
Public Librarys search catalog SHERLOC (http://sherloc.indypl.org/) and the ProQuest
Database offered by IUPUI
(http://search.proquest.com.proxy.ulib.uits.iu.edu/pqcentral/index?accountid=7398). I sought
assistance from various libraries: one academic and two public libraries through chat, email and
phone reference interviews to locate more resources on Minecraft. I interviewed kids involved in
a local Minecraft Club where I was directed to popular YouTube personalities that feature their
builds and gameplay tips on their YouTube channels. Lastly, I searched popular sources like
Amazon and Good Reads to locate more print resources to complete this bibliography.

The difficulty of using the Indianapolis Public Librarys search catalog is being limited to
materials only offered in that particular librarys collection. The library currently has 2 million
materials in its entire collection which did provide me with exceptional resources. My research

MINECRAFT: AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

led me to use more popular websites like Amazon and Good Reads which gave me a plethora of
print materials on Minecraft.

These sources limited my research to only print materials on Minecraft concerning gameplay. I
wanted to expand my scope to include research on the benefits of gameplay which led me to seek
materials by contacting librarians in academic and public libraries for assistance. I received great
resources from one public library in Indiana through email contact and decided to conduct
further research using the ProQuest Database.

Lastly, I found invaluable research help from adolescent patrons participating in a weekly
Minecraft program at a public library based in Indianapolis. They lead me to YouTube where
most of them go for creative ideas on Minecraft.

MINECRAFT: AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

paRT 2DSa: CITaTIonS

paRT 2: CITaTIonS

WEB SouRcES


Garrelts, Nate, and ebrary Inc. Understanding Minecraft : Essays on Play, Community and

Possibilities. Print.
This book is a collection of published essays on the benefits and critiques of Minecraft. The book
has a particular chapter titled Teaching Tools: Progressive Pedagogy and the History of
Construction Play which is in reference to the educational benefits of Minecraft in the library or
classroom. This essay gives a great comparison to Minecraft gameplay and Legos which is a
great way to describe the game. Another essay touches on art and design in the game. One article
speaks on how gender and sexuality are played out in the game and gives a great analysis of
heteronormativity and defaults of a white male character in Minecraft. One of the challenges of
having a Minecraft Club is including girls in the gameplay. Garrelts received his PhD from
Michigan State University in American Studies. He has written two previous books on digital
gameplay and the culture of Grand Theft Auto, a popular game where players play as a career
criminal. This title is a resource to read published studies on Minecraft and the culture behind the
popular game.

MINECRAFT: AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

10

Thompson, Clive. "The Minecraft Generation." The New York Times Magazine. The New York
Times Company, 14 Apr. 2016. Web. 17 Apr. 2016.
<http://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/04/17/magazine/the-minecraftgeneration.html?smid=fb-nytimes>.
This article provides an overview of Minecraft and its current popularity with young
people. It gives some back ground information of the history of Minecraft. Embedded in the
article is a video of Minecraft created by popular Minecraft players who give an introduction to
the game and an overview of what can be created in Minecraft in an informative and humorous
way. The article points to resources like Connected Camps which is an online Minecraft
community for kids. It invites kids to connect with other kids all across the United States to learn
concepts while using Minecraft like circuitry and computer programming as well as art projects.
The article presents information on how Minecraft allows kids to tinker with computer
programming and solve complex problems while playing Minecraft. Thompson is a contributing
writer for the New York Times Magazine and wrote the book Smarter Than You Think: How
Technology Is Changing Our Minds for the Better. Thompson is biased towards the use of
technology and education and does not discuss its potential limitations. Many adults are worried
about the amount of screen time kids spend each day. The article does go into harassment that
can occur in Minecraft and that girls and women are twice as likely to face harassment in online
games than men. No solutions have been offered other than one girl player opted to play in
single player after being harassed in Minecraft by other players. This article presents great
information on the history of Minecraft and Minecraft culture.

MINECRAFT: AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

11

Wingfield, N., & Singer, N. (2016, Jan 20). Microsoft buys minecraft used in school
classrooms. International New York Times Retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com/docview/1758019833?accountid=7398

This article is about how Microsoft recently purchased TeacherGamings version of Minecraft
called MinecraftEdu. This article is great for anyone looking to start a Minecraft club using
MinecraftEdu and know that some major or minor changes could be on the horizon for this
gaming software. The biggest change that the article presents is how MinecraftEdu used to be
purchased with a one-time service license fee and a fee for a total amount of students given
access to play on the games server at one time. Microsoft plans on charging $5 per student per
year to use the popular game in classrooms and libraries. Wingfield has written many articles for
the New York Times that feature information on Microsoft and Amazon. Singer has written for
the New York Times since 2005 and she has most recently about the pharmaceutical industry and
consumer data. This article is for those who want to utilize MinecraftEdu for their Minecraft
club.

"MinecraftEdu - Resources." MinecraftEdu - Resources. Web. 27 Feb. 2016.


https://minecraftedu.com/resources.

This is a great online resource page for MinecraftEdu. The site gives a general description of
MinecraftEdu and how it is to be used in an educational setting. It has different tabs at the top of

MINECRAFT: AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

12

the webpage such as About, Software, Hosting, Community, and Resources. The
webpage gives basic information into MinecraftEdu and has a link to the wiki page which gives a
vast amount of information to teacher commands that can be used during gameplay. There is also
a link to lesson plan ideas for the classroom based on the subject matter. One that I found
interesting was lesson plans for teaching a foreign language. This site really helped me when I
was getting Central Librarys Minecraft Club started.

Waterson, Carrie. "Minecraft." Kids Blog. The Indianapolis Public Library, 27 Oct. 2015. Web.
07 Apr. 2016. http://www.indypl.org/kids/blog/?p=22986

This online resource is the kids blog by the Indianapolis Public Library staff. The blog highlights
Indianapolis public library locations that currently host Minecraft Clubs. It also features many
links to activities and crafts that have Minecraft themes that kids can do at home. There are many
books featured as well including many fiction titles that could interest kids in reading. Waterson
manages the web content for the Indianapolis Public Library. This resource is for kids and adults
who have or work with kids with an interest in Minecraft.

MINECRAFT: AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

13

booKS

Cadenhead, Rogers. Absolute Beginner's Guide to Minecraft Mods Programming. Indianapolis:


Pearson Education, 2015. Print.

This manual was written by a computer programmer who has written many books that relate to
the internet and computer programming. This book provides information on how to modify
Minecraft using Java script. This resource is for advanced players in Minecraft. This book will
not be helpful if players only use MinecraftEdu or Pocket Edition because commands are not
possible on these two platforms. It will only be helpful if players are familiar with Minecraft for
the computer or consoles like Xbox and Playstation. The book begins by teaching a player of
how to set up a Minecraft server. The book was written at the time when Minecraft updated to
1.8.7. This book may become outdated as it may require players to use an older version of
Minecraft when they decide to use this resource. The resource states that it is a beginners guide,
but some familiarity with a command screen is required as it is not explained in the introduction
to the book. This requires a lot of software to be downloaded on a computer or laptop which
would not be possible using a laptop or PC in a public library due to download restrictions. This
resource is for advanced players who have access to a personal PC or laptop where they can
learn to do computer programming on their own.

Clark, James H., Cori Dusmann, and John Moltz The Visual Guide to Minecraft: Dig into
Minecraft with This (parent-approved) Guide Full of Tips, Hints, and Projects! Berkeley:

MINECRAFT: AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

14

Peachpit, 2015. Print.

This is a beginners manual that is not affiliated with Mojang. It provides information on styling
a home and how to create furniture in Minecraft. It will also teach young players how to craft
simple redstone devices. The manual also includes information on how to enchant weapons to
make them more powerful and crafting potions. Clark runs an online video gaming community.
His humor and information has drawn many to his website. Many people will seek him out as a
gaming mentor. Dusmann is a counselor in Canada and has spent over 20 years in the education
field introducing gaming to children as a way to learn. Moltz is a freelance writer who assisted
with this book.

ConCrafter. Minecraft: An Unofficial Guide with New Facts and Commands. New York: Feiwel
and Friends, 2016. Print.

ConCrafter is a YouTube personality with over 1 million subscribers to his channel. He is a


German national and his book has been translated into English from German. His channel
features more video games other than Minecraft. ConCrafters book is a highly stylized manual
on how to play Minecraft. The manual features helpful screen captures of gameplay. This guide
also features personal stories by ConCrafter about his love of playing video games. This book is
boasted as a must-have for beginners and intermediate lever Minecraft players. The potential
problem is that some Minecraft players may need a more basic introduction to the game than this
title offers. This resource may be difficult for a player who is new to video games altogether.

MINECRAFT: AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

15

Cordeiro, Adam, and Emily Nelson. Minecraft Construction for Dummies. Hoboken: John Wiley
& Sons, 2015. Print.

This is another resource guide to help beginner players of Minecraft survive in Survival mode. It
assists players in gathering materials in the game for crafting. It also provides tips for creative
mode where players can learn to build houses, boats, roller coasters and other creative ideas.
Cordeiro was a student at Stanford Online High School. His writing style will be easy to follow
for new and young players. Nelson was an editor for the Gamestar Mechanic for Dummies series
and also writes short stories. The book does provide a progression from beginner level gaming
experience to a more advanced level. There is information on building entire cities and
engineering devices using redstone. This book can be useful for many levels of Minecraft
players.

Dusmann, Cori. The Parent's Guidebook to Minecraft: Down-to-earth Advice for Parents of
Children Playing Minecraft. San Francisco: Peachpit, 2014. Print.

This resource gives adults information on Minecraft and why kids love playing the game. It is a
resource that will assist an adult with little computer experience on how to install Minecraft, set
up a game and how to play. It provides academic research on the benefits of playing Minecraft.
Adults can find out how Minecraft can be used as a tool to teach kids about online social skills
and internet safety. There is information on setting boundaries on kids playing Minecraft so that
it does not become a constant conflict in the home. Dusmann is an educator and homeschool

MINECRAFT: AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

16

parent who uses gaming to teach her teenage son. Dusmann has over 20 years experience
working with youth and has found video games to be beneficial to education. This resource is
great for adults looking to learn more about Minecraft and the benefits of the popular video
game.

Farwell, Nick, Don Steer, James Burlinson, Theo Cordner, and Joe Bolder. Minecraft Redstone
Handbook. New York: Scholastic, 2015. Print.

Nick Farwell has written several instructional handbooks on Minecraft for school aged kids. This
handbook is no different and gives the readers how-to instructions on redstone. This manual
offers kids lessons on circuitry and the basics of using redstone and various other necessities that
can be crafted using this game-changing resource. Redstone is probably one of the most
advanced ways to play Minecraft. This book also includes tips from the game creator, Notch.
This book is an official guide with permission from Mojang.

Goldberg, Daniel, and Linus Larsson. Minecraft: The Unlikely Tale of Markus "Notch"Persson
and the Game That Changed Everything. New York: Seven Stories, 2015. Print.

This is a biography about the creator of Minecraft, Notch. It delves into how he got the idea for
Minecraft and how quickly the game became a success. This book may not be suitable for some
children as it does share Notchs history with drug addiction. But this resource contributes a great

MINECRAFT: AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

17

overview of Minecraft and why people should be playing the game. This book is not a how-to
guide, but gives more of the history behind Minecraft and its creator. It should be a fairly quick
read at 241 pages and large type. Both of the authors are Swedish and have written about
technology and another collaborative book about a hacker. This is their first book to be printed in
English.

Miller, Megan. Minecraft hacks: The unofficial guide to tips and tricks that other guides
won't teach you. New York: Sky Pony Press. 2014. Print.

This is another unofficial how-to Minecraft book for kids. The author has written several
different unofficial guides on Minecraft including a book on redstone. The book delves into
different sections such as mining resources and building techniques to make houses, a castle, a
blimp and giant spheres. It gives an overview of gameplay on the different formats available and
modifications that can be made to Minecraft. There are also tips on farming, finding the best
weapons and so on. This resource can be used with players who are familiar with Minecraft. This
book is not recommended for beginners as it may be confusing. Miller has been playing video
games since she was a kid with an Atari. Miller shares her tricks that she has learned in the game.
She has published ten books on Minecraft, one being a graphic novel.

MINECRAFT: AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

18

Miller, Megan. Trucos Para Minecraft: La Gua No Oficial Con Todas Las Claves Y Consejos
Que Ninguna Gua Oficial Te Ensear. Mexico City: Destino, 2015. Print.

The how-to manual by Megan Miller has been translated into Spanish for Spanish-speaking kids
to play Minecraft. Miller was born in Peru and has lived in many places around the world ever
since including the United States. She plays Minecraft daily and has written a beginners guide to
playing Minecraft for Spanish speakers. The book includes screen captures of Minecraft in color
as well as different commands that the players can use. The commands will be written in English
in the chat feature and Miller explains what each command does and what it means in Spanish.
This book is recommended for Spanish-speaking Minecraft players.

Minecrafter 2.0 Advanced: The Unofficial Guide to Minecraft & Other Building Games.
Chicago: Triumph, LLC, 2014. Print.

This manual was published by Triumph Books and is not authorized by Mojang who owns the
rights and created Minecraft. The book gives a general overview of the game providing its
different platforms to play the game. It will also provide tips on gameplay such as battle, mining,
farming and builds. It also has a chapter on Advanced Redstone, which is creating powered
circuits in Minecraft. One of the ideas is to create a trap using redstone, gates and repeating
signals.

MINECRAFT: AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

19

Minecraft Redstone Devices Guides. Minecraft: Top 20 Advanced Minecraft Redstone Devices to
Create! Place of Publication Not Identified: CreateSpace, 2013. Print.

This resource manual boasts that players can build devices using redstone. The author is unkown
so there is no certainty the credibility of this source in giving directions. Some of the instructions
could be difficult for young players to understand. But the resource could help players get ideas
for devices they can build using redstone. The book begins with basic information like how to
build a redstone torch and redstone repeater. However, those who are looking for an advanced
experience may view this manual as being too basic. The screen captures are in black and white
and not all of the instructions have a screen capture to accompany each step. This may be hard
for young players to follow unless they are receiving help from an adult. This resource is
included to present ideas on projects that could be taught during a lesson on circuitry in
Minecraft.

Milton, Stephanie. Minecraft Essential Handbook. New York: Scholastic, 2015. Print.

This manual resource was made for kids. This book is backed by Mojang, the company that
owns Minecraft. The book provides survival tips for a new players first time playing the game
and surviving their first night in Minecraft. The player must be in Survival mode. The manual
provides an overview of Minecraft, resources, blocks, tips and tricks. This guide also provides
tips for staying safe while playing Minecraft on an online server. This is great information for
kids who want to get started playing with other people. One tip is never give out your real name

MINECRAFT: AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

20

online or other personal information. Included is a history of Minecraft and important moments
since it was thought of in 2009. There are useful links to playing Minecraft and certain fan sites
that were created that are supported by this resource. The creating developers Jeb and Notch also
provide tips in how to survive that first night in the game. This book was made for beginning
players with color pages and detailed screen caps with descriptions.

Needler, Matthew, Phil Southam, James Barker, and Theo Cordner. Minecraft Construction
Handbook. New York: Scholastic, 2015. Print.

This is an official guide to building in Minecraft for children. This book will go over the basics
of building structures in Minecraft like a house, rollercoaster, pirate ship, garden and so much
more. Kids will gain a great understanding of how to use the different materials available in the
game to start building in Minecraft. This handbook has the permission of Mojang.

O'Brien, Stephen J. The Advanced Strategy Guide to Minecraft. Indianapolis: Que, 2015. Print.

This manual is designed for advanced players in Minecraft. The book teaches players how to use
command blocks, which is not currently possible to do in MinecraftEdu or Minecraft PE.
Minecraft is the only platform where command blocks can be used. The game will show players
how to do mods to the game, create a machine to do all of the farming, create a solar-powered
town and wind farm. They show players how to build 2D pixel art and replicas of famous

MINECRAFT: AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

21

sculptures. OBrien has written over 30 books, some of which have been best-sellers. He
founded his own publisher, Typefi. OBrien has played Minecraft since its early beginnings. This
is an unofficial guide so it may not be completely reliable. The resource does provide creative
ideas on building and types of art that can be done in Minecraft. It may not be as advanced as it
claims to be as some players may be familiar with some of the tips and tricks outlined in the
book. The book includes screen captures in color and directions for users with a moderate to
advanced level of understanding of Minecraft.

O'Hanlon, Martin, and David Whale. Adventures in Minecraft. Chichester: John Wiley, 2015.
Print.

This is a how-to programming project book in Minecraft. This title offers a lot for people who
are interested in coding and computer programming. The book focuses on using certain coding
programs and Minecraft such as Python and Raspberry Pi. The book is advanced but it is written
for "young people." The pros of this book would be to get kids interested in coding and computer
programming by using Minecraft and computer programming software. Cons may be hard to do
with children who are new to Minecraft and computer programming. At the library, you may not
have a consistent audience to build up their skill level in Minecraft to do this program. However,
it could be available for check out for a participant in your Minecraft program to take home and
try out on their own. The authors have their backgrounds in computer programming. They both
run workshops and clubs for computer programming and code.

MINECRAFT: AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

22

Stay, Jesse. Minecraft Recipes for Dummies. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, 2015. Print.

This how-to manual will provide simple to follow instructions on crafting in Minecraft. Using a
crafting table in Minecraft, players will learn how to craft weapons, armor, dyes, transportation,
enchantments and various brewing recipes. This book is a great resource for all levels of
Minecraft players as a reference to crafting. Crafting is primarily done in Survival mode, but
some resources are not available in Creative mode and must be crafted using a crafting table.
Stay had help from his son who also plays Minecraft in writing this book. This resource should
be available for all players for reference during gameplay. There are so many recipes that can be
used for crafting that it is easy to forget. There may be updates to the game adding more crafting
recipes. This book may not contain all of the available recipes as it is also an unofficial resource
not sponsored by Mojang.

Ultimate App Guidebooks. Minecraft Survival: The Ultimate Players Guide to Surviving
inMinecraft. Charleston: CreateSpace, 2014. Print.

Minecraft has two settingings: creative and survival. This guide is to help player's play Minecraft
in survival mode. Survival is where players must gather their resources in the game and their
characters can be killed in the game. This guide offers tips to help beginner players stay alive in
the game. This book lists Ultimate App Guidebooks as the author of this book, which is
responsible for writing a few unofficial guidebooks on Minecraft.

MINECRAFT: AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

23

Wiltshire, Alex. Minecraft Blockopedia. Ed. Stephanie Milton. New York: Scholastic, 2015.
Print.

This encyclopedia of all of the available blocks in Minecraft is an important resource to learn the
different uses behind each block. The book comes with fun facts and trivia about different blocks
and Minecraft. The book is in color and comes in an interesting hexagonal shape which is sure to
attract young players to pick it up. Wiltshire is the former editor of Edge Magazine which is a
popular gaming magazine. This book is for beginners, intermediate and expert gamers alike to
explore more information behind the blocks and resources used in Minecraft.

EbooKS

Cheats Unlimited. Minecraft: An Introduction, Surviving the First Night and the Basics of
Building. Ashland: ICE Games, 2013. E-book.

This eBook manual provides basic information on Minecraft including tips for surviving the first
night in Minecraft. The title also includes building techniques. This resource is made for youth
and beginners in Minecraft. There is no author listed for this book so it is difficult to tell the
quality of this resource. It is an unofficial resource that is not backed by Mojang. This resource
could be seen as dated in terms of how quickly Minecraft updates that a resource published in

MINECRAFT: AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

24

2013 may contain similar information in newer resources that expand on that information. It may
contain outdated information that no longer applies to recent updates in Minecraft. This resource
is included to give players ideas on gameplay especially in Survival mode.

Joseph, Joyner. Minecraft: Top 35 Minecraft Mods You Should Know. Newark: Speedy, 2013.
Web.

Minecraft is full of mods that can be downloaded to play the game. Many people have uploaded
their mods to the game that can be downloaded for free. This unofficial guide can help
intermediate to advanced players navigate those mods and find some interesting ones to try that
are available. Some mods are not available for MinecraftEdu and are not available for Minecraft
PE at this time. This resource could guide players to find and download mods to complete
different activities such as mapping, engineering, and exploring new ways to play Minecraft.

Monk, Matthew and Simon Monk. Minecraft Mastery: Build Your Own Redstone Contraptions
and Mods. New York: McGraw-Hill Education, 2015. E-book.

This manual is an eBook with technical information on using redstone in Minecraft. This is made
mostly for gamers who play Minecraft on the computer or laptop. This is not for other platforms
like Xbox or Playstation. Some of these projects will be hard to complete in MinecraftEdu
because some of the projects require the use of command blocks which students do not have

MINECRAFT: AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

25

access to use in the latest version of MinecraftEdu. This resource is not recommended for
beginning players. Players learn how to use redstone and do some computer programming with
this book. The basics of how redstone is used is explained in this manual before it delves into the
technical aspects of using redstone in Minecraft. The book provides some black and white screen
captures of the game. Players must be able to follow instructions as they are written in the book.
The authors both have expert experience in Minecraft. Matthew published another book on using
computer programming in Minecraft. Simon has published a book on using Arduino and
Raspberry Pi to program in Minecraft. Their experience with Minecraft play on the computer
will not be helpful to players using other platforms to play Minecraft.

Scotts, Jason. Minecraft: 140 Top Tips & Tricks Exposed! Newark, DE: Speedy, 2014. E-book.

This source contains information on how to play Minecraft for all levels of players. It is only 33
pages long with in color screen captures of Minecraft. These tips give many ideas that work on a
variety of different gaming platforms. This resource has something from basic tips to some
advanced cheats to Minecraft. Jason has written many books including on subjects of mental
strength, motivation and diet and nutrition. He also has an interest in Minecraft which led him to
write a few books on the subject. This is an unofficial manual on Minecraft, but still has some
useful ideas for players. It is a quick read and ready to reference while gamers are playing
Minecraft.

MINECRAFT: AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

26

Scotts, Jason. Minecraft Farming: 70 Top Minecraft Essential Farming Guide & Ideas Exposed!
Newark: Speedy, 2014. E-book.

This manual is about farming. Items can be grown in Minecraft when they are planted. This book
will take it one step further and teach players how to farm materials from mobs, blocks,
renewable and nonrenewable resources. This book is an unofficial guide to farming. Scotts has
written many books and has an interest in Minecraft and guiding players through tips and tricks
that he has learned while playing the game. This resource is available to present ideas on farming
in Minecraft to intermediate and advanced players.

Scotts, Jason. Minecraft Pocket Edition: In a Nutshell Guide. Newark: Speedy, 2013. E-book.

This resource guide is available for players who play Minecraft Pocket Edition (PE) on
their Android or iOS device. This manual stands as a guide for beginner players on Minecraft PE.
It helps get them familiar with the PE version. There are many features that are not available in
PE that are available in other platforms of Minecraft. This resource is dated in terms of the many
updates that have happened since Minecraft PE came out in 2011. However, this resource can get
a new player started with PE. Scotts has written about many interests involving Minecraft. This
is an unofficial guide and only includes that Scotts has found during game play. This resource is
for beginning players using Minecraft PE on their mobile device.

MINECRAFT: AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

27

YouTuBE

Stampylonghead. "Stampylonghead." YouTube. YouTube, 29 July 2011. Web. 07 Apr. 2016.


[https://www.youtube.com/user/stampylonghead]

Stampylonghead is a YouTube Minecraft personality. He has over 7 million YouTube subscribers


to his channel. Stampy for short appears as a cat in the Minecraft game and hosts many fun
adventures in Minecraft like Hunger Games competitions in different realms. Some of them set
to famous book characters like Dr. Seuss. Stampy is seen as kid-friendly because he does not
curse. Stampy does provide some build tutorials but mostly shows off other peoples builds in
Minecraft and will do challenges that he has created with other Minecrafters or that someone has
created for him to try.

IBallisticSquid. "IBallisticSquid." YouTube. YouTube, 10 Mar. 2011. Web. 07 Apr. 2016.


[https://www.youtube.com/user/iBallisticSquid]

MINECRAFT: AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY


iBallisticSquid is another YouTube personality with over 3 million subscribers. He sometimes
goes on Minecraft challenges with Sampylonghead. His audience is a bit older for ages 13 and
up. He plays Hunger Games and does different challenges in different worlds that people have
created or he has created himself. Some of the challenges he has are to build and explore in
survival mode.

28

You might also like